Southampton

BBC Radio Solent is giving Southampton supporters the chance to ask their questions to those in charge at St Mary's.

Head coach Will Still, technical director Johannes Spors and chief executive Phil Parsons will join host Adam Blackmore from 6pm on Thursday 6 August.

You can listen on FM, DAB and on BBC Sounds.

Southampton kick off the new Championship season at home to Wrexham on Saturday (12:30 BST).

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Southampton's Japan youth international striker Rento Takaoka has joined French side Valenciennes on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old moves to the French third-tier having yet to make a first team, appearance for Saints.

He moved to the south coast in March after turning 18, having impressed at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup.

He is the fifth player to leave St Mary's on loan this summer.

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Yankuba Minteh found the net twice but Brighton conceded a two-goal lead to draw with Southampton in their latest pre-season friendly.

Earlier on Saturday, the Seagulls played the Saints in a 60-minute match behind closed doors, earning a 1-0 win.

But the full encounter saw Minteh score either side of the break, only for Jay Robinson and an Adam Armstrong penalty to pull Saints back to parity.

Brighton have now won four and drawn one of their summer fixtures, beating Coventry and UD Las Palmas 2-0, Stoke 3-1 and Wycombe Wanderers 6-1.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Everton's bid for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling is perhaps part of an admission that it will be difficult to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon.

Fofana has not completely ruled out a move to the Toffees but after reports that talks were at an "advanced" stage, there is a clear reluctance from the Belgium international to move to Merseyside.

European powerhouses like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool have expressed an interest, which has led to the 20-year-old to sit tight and stall on any move to Everton.

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Southampton have set a new asking price for winger Tyler Dibling after rejecting an initial offer from Everton. (EFL Analysis), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

New Southampton signing Damion Downs says his decision to move to the Saints was a "no-brainer".

The US striker joined the Championship side from German side FC Koln earlier this month and is "ready" to help the club reach the top flight once again.

"Their ambition is to get to the Premier League and stay in the Premier League and that's something I want to do as well," Downs told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think English football is the most attractive you can play so it was a no-brainer for me."

Listen to the full interview with Damion Downs and more on BBC Sounds.

Southampton captain Jack Stephens said he is "grateful" to the Saints for offering him a new three-year deal to extend his stay at St Mary's.

The defender signed the new contract in July, and he could potentially reach 17 years as a Southampton player after joining the under-21s from Plymouth Argyle in 2011.

In the ever-changing world of football, it is a milestone that Stephens takes pride in.

"I have always been vocal about how proud I am to play for this football club and that will always be the case. I am very grateful to the club for offering me that contract," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"I'm delighted to sign up for another three years."

Listen to the full interview with Jack Stephens and more on BBC Sounds.

"It does feel that connection is not quite there at the moment, the familiarity isn't there - but I think that's normal after a relegation season."

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and Alfie House of the Southern Daily Echo reflect on Southampton's training trip in Girona and what it could spell for the Saints' return to the Championship.

Listen to the full analysis and more on BBC Sounds.

Southampton have joined top flight clubs Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Metz striker Idrissa Gueye, 18, with the Senegalese teenager expected to leave the Ligue 1 side just months after joining. (L'Equipe - in French, subscription required), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

All 20 clubs earn a share of Premier League prize money. The amount each club receives depends on their league position and number of televised matches.

Prize money consists of UK and international merit broadcast payments, equal shares, commercial revenues and facility fees.

All clubs received a central commercial payment of £7.9m and equal shares from UK (£29.8m) and international (£59.2m) revenues.

Clubs are also paid a facility fee for matches broadcast on domestic TV. Liverpool had 30 of their 38 league matches televised - more than any other club.

1st: Liverpool - £174.9m

2nd: Arsenal - £171.5m

3rd: Manchester City - £165.5m

4th: Chelsea - £163.7m

5th: Newcastle United - £160.2m

6th: Aston Villa - £159.3m

7th: Nottingham Forest - £152.5m

8th: Brighton - £145.1m

9th: Bournemouth - £143.4m

10th: Brentford - £138.9m

11th: Fulham - £135.5m

12th: Crystal Palace - £136.1m

13th: Everton - £131.8m

14th: West Ham - £130.9m

15th: Manchester United - £136.2m

16th: Wolves - £123.1m

17th: Tottenham - £127.8m

18th: Leicester - £116.9m

19th: Ipswich Town - £111.1m

20th: Southampton - £109.2m

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Southampton boss Will Still says his squad have "lots to learn" as they build up to the start of the Championship season.

Saints came from behind to beat National League side Eastleigh 2-1 in a pre-season friendly and Still's first game in charge.

"I think there are a lot of things to learn," Still told BBC Radio Solent.

"We're going to have to work incredibly hard and we're not going to walk over any opposition, you can see that it's a team in the middle of a complete reconstruction.

"We're restructuring the identity and style of play and after 10 to 11 days training we've seen a lot of positive things as well as things we have to work on."

Saints get their Championship campaign under way on 9 August when they play Wrexham at St Mary's.

Two senior players whose futures seem uncertain at the club are Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton Díaz.

The pair of forwards have both reported for pre-season but manager Still said that it remains up to them if they want to be part of the project for the duration of the campaign.

Armstrong has made 142 appearances for Saints and scored 32 goals with 19 assists, Brereton Diaz has plenty of experience in the Championship, scoring 47 goals during his 177 appearances at Blackburn Rovers before joining Southampton in 2024.

"Those two can be as important as they want to be," Still added.

"They have bags of Championship experience as well as a certain personality that could be really useful, it's up to them if they want to be a part of this and really important.

"I've had conversations with a few people that are looking to move on and go to that next step which is also fine.

"I've had those conversations to know early on to know if we're all pulling in the right direction or the other."